On 29th September 1956, the club played matches against near-neighbours, Harpenden. The 1st XV captained by Alan Pakes, the fourth person to have this honour since the club was founded, won 27-9 at the Park. The 2nd XV skippered by Duggie Clements lost 0-8 away, whilst the 3rd XV captained by Stuart Pakes, Alan’s brother.
Alan Pakes was a key figure in the early days of the club, and was described by George Thorpe as “a great club member… a gifted player and a fine leader of men. He was the kind of inspiring Club Skipper (who was) respected by his fellow 1st XV players, and equally looked up to by junior and social members alike as their Club Skipper”. When still the best fly-half in the club, he chose to step down to the 3rd XV, “to help the younger players along”. At the end of the 1956-57 season, colours were awarded to George Lovell, father of Mark and Corrine, and grandfather of Alex and James. The versatile Pat Heanue won the Lowther Kicking Cup, five years before bother Mick, the only brother to have won the trophy.
John Humphrey was the club captain for a second season in 1973, and on 29th September he led the 1st XV away to Coventry to play Barkers Butts, where they won 15-3. This was to be a hugely successful season for the club, with the 1st XV winning 36 and drawing one of 38 matches. This match was part of a run of 50 undefeated matches, in which loose head prop and future club captain, John Goodyear, was the only member of the team to have played in all 50 games. In the process, they became Bedfordshire and East Midlands Champions
The 2nd XV under former first team prop, John Dickens, won 36-0 at home, and were undefeated throughout September. The Shepherds, under Phil Lorman, travelled away to Coventry and beat Barkers Butts 11-3, whilst Pete Allen’s 4th team lost 14-20 at home to St Albans 2nd XV. The 5ths beat St Albans 3rds away 14-10. To round off the day, the colts beat Barkers Butts 15-10 at the Park.
Club colours for 1973-74 were awarded to Roy Barton, Don Budge, Brian Sedgemore, Peter Simeons and Jeremy Wood. Bill Wood with 30 tries was the first winner of the Try-Scoring Cup, which was re-named after Rick Kerner, a top-quality wing who played in the 1960s and ‘70s, after he died prematurely in his late 30s. Bob Adair won the Lowther Kicking Cup, whilst props, Roy Barton & John Goodyear, were recognized as the most improved players. Colt of the year was Martin Whittaker.
The line-up in the photo: Referee, Roy Cato (coach), Rick Kerner, Peter Simeons, Bill Wood, Don Budge, Brian Sedgemore, Roy Barton, Phil Taylor, Keiran Connolly
Jeremy Wood, Ashley Green, Rex Poulter, John Humphreys (captain), Dave Budge, Andy Whitehouse, John Goodyear